Customized Corneal Implants for Keratoconus Shape Correction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Keratoconus causes the cornea to bulge into an irregular conical shape, distorting vision, and existing treatments are inadequate in providing customized and effective corrections.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for producing corneal implants using laser systems to shape donor corneas based on inverse measurements derived from assessments like topographic and biomechanical measurements, creating customized implants with thinner portions over protrusions and thicker peripheries to correct corneal irregularities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing treatments are used for keratoconus, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but correction effectiveness is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment and planning before implantation. Topographic and tomographic measurements are obtained in advance to map the corneal irregularities, and the implant design is customized based on these pre-acquired data, enabling effective correction while streamlining the actual surgical procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, featuring thinner portions positioned over protruding corneal areas and thicker portions in flatter regions. This localized variation in implant properties directly addresses the specific irregularities of each patient's cornea, maximizing correction effectiveness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standardized implants are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but customization for individual corneal shapes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The implant design parameters (thickness distribution, curvature, diameter) are dynamically adjusted based on individual patient assessments. The system modifies these parameters to create customized implants that precisely match each patient's corneal topography and tomography data, achieving both adaptability and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
All customization calculations and design decisions are made in advance based on pre-operative assessments. The inverse measurements are computed beforehand to determine the exact implant geometry needed, allowing for precise manufacturing of customized implants without requiring complex real-time adjustments during surgery.
3Measurement precision
If inverse measurements are calculated to account for smoothing effects, then correction accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback loops where the measured corneal shape and predicted smoothing effects are used to iteratively refine the inverse measurements. This feedback mechanism allows the computational system to account for tissue response and achieve higher correction accuracy while managing complexity through algorithmic optimization.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The customized corneal implants effectively correct corneal irregularities by minimizing protrusions, improving vision by aligning with individual corneal shapes and promoting smooth integration with surrounding structures.
Implementation Method 1
a laser system configured to receive the inverse measurements and to shape a donor cornea according to a pattern based on the inverse measurements
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods produce implants for treating keratoconus or other eye disorders. An example method includes identifying a subject with keratoconus. The method includes obtaining, with assessment means, an assessment of a cornea of a subject; determining, by processor(s), inverse measurements for correcting one or more irregularities associated with the keratoconus based on the assessment; and shaping, with a laser system, a donor cornea according to a pattern based on the inverse measurements. The example method may further include determining smoothing effects associated with the cornea, wherein the inverse measurements are based further on the smoothing effects, and the pattern for shaping the donor cornea is based further on the smoothing effects. Obtaining the assessment of the cornea may include obtaining a topographic measurement, a tomographic measurement, anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT), Scheimpflug imaging, an epithelium mapping, a stromal thickness mapping, and/or one or more biomechanical measurements.